Administrative court - City of Lübeck loses dispute over vacation apartments
In the legal dispute over holiday apartments in Lübeck's Old Town, the city administration is reportedly backing down, according to a media report. In 2019, the city administration had prohibited apartment owners from renting out their properties as holiday apartments. However, a ruling in favor of a landlord from May has now become legally binding, as the city did not file any appeals, according to the "Lübecker Nachrichten" newspaper.
The city administration announced that it is intended to proceed with objections to the continued use of protected apartments as holiday apartments in all cases that have been stayed, and to deny these objections on this basis. They are now looking for another way to prevent the conversion of living space. "With the recently passed Housing Protection Law of Schleswig-Holstein, there is the possibility for Lübeck to issue a prohibition of conversion ordinance in the future," said city spokesperson Nina Rehberg to the newspaper.
Despite the city administration's initial ban on renting out holiday apartments in Lübeck's Old Town, an administrative court ruling in May favored a landlord, making it legally binding. The city administration, however, has chosen not to appeal, leading to speculation about their stance. In light of this conflict, the city administration is considering appealing in cases where objections to the use of protected apartments as vacation homes have been delayed. They are also exploring options under the Housing Protection Law of Schleswig-Holstein to prevent future conversions of living space into vacation apartments in Lübeck's municipality, contributing to the city's tourism sector.
